The Labor enquirer., 1887-03-19

uars earnss shea working full time wAs
about 80 cents day. out Of which the
miner bad to paylfor picks and their
uharpeninr. oil. wisk. powder, shovels.
Jumpers, hammers, besides ordinary scut.
taxes, csaI, etc. Bat there were idle days
somsi NEE shen fails from the roof pre-
vented them working. Then. also, thev
were charged about 25 cents on every IS
advanced 10 them. and their terrible
condition rendered it absolutely -neces-
ssrv that they should have an advance
from somewhere. This STATE Of things
v ent on until II became intolerable. and
strikes took place. The men were how
ever apsu and again defeated. A few
months go ons Of their leaders. Mr..
small. who is a Socialist, advised the
men 10 ristric, the output and take .
haliday once . week. IN at the came
% demand n advance Of IL cents per
QAls ihi' tllc 'utbe'S '~-~''>~
much ir crltv. They recently de
inAnde,i nnother advance OF IL cents per
dav, and iAis Their masters expressed
their determination to resist, using the
! foul age gainst the men. Just at
lLis time. too, the miners wives had to
paw an extra l2 cents per bundled
weight for the GOALS, the price being
raised On the approach Of the bitter
weather and .lairnst eirnlnss. taking
he nunerous dsiuctions s previ vi)usly
nen,ioIel igso lcco Int, average abo W
s2.l6a week The general strike soon
aYtergGrd took place, pickets were ap-
oinied to the pits. and subscriptions
gere ,licited ior he minsrs' wives and
children by house 10 house visitation.
o. visiting some Of The shopkeepers the
men perp grossly nsnlted. They were
ts.a As' s3a aelk VAS plenty for q
mines. lie AM fimly ., live upon.
70 20 and eat saw Inst, etd. These are
- Tea si .he fni- -thA led up 70 what
tooS pi.ae "a NJ o. sl February
on that dav a number OF the miners
W. re pic6ei.ns q, I-merig " and S'swan-
nan. Suddenly body of mounted po-
lice dashed among then, scattered then
right and .e!i and iujurius several, one
Young man being picked up for dead.
Some old men were also brataily dubbed
by the police A large mass meeting
was held At ii anil pn The same day, and
the news the PIC ksls spread like Wild
iire. This aith thtir bther grievances,
so enrsgei the Blaptyf. contingent that
II needed only a spark Of disorder to
kinlle the fame Of serious rot. On
their return a bakers van was selzed
and the bread banded out; and, with
tue remembrance Of the insults thev had
received from come Of he shopkeepers
fresh on their minds, a rush was at once
made scr tie shops and the pillagisg
began, which va not subdue until the
miit rY was called Iout."
Last week most unusual thing oc-
CURED In the house If commous. An
amendneut Vas at,aa.iy moved to the
address that the question of the unem :
plo'ed should be ccnsideredl After
'hfee snorI ee'hes lad been made
The speaker, who 10 simply tory tool
closed lhe debate although night after
night had been wasted With ouibblins
over som unimpotiaui stem of govern
ment ppltcV or cmrse questions which
deeply her' iae Interests Of the work
INK e'a.-sa muai be carefully excluded
from that assemblAse Of landlords aud
capitalists clrpt parliament. To his
great shane be IL stated Mr.. Charles
3r dlangh, who has Tor 30 many wears
% sed as he representative Of the work.
ins classes, got up and left the house
when the division took place upon the
amendment. Some of the labor repre-.
senta,ives" (so-calleu) we're also abse II
whilst those who we're present and who
voted fr the amendment raised no pro-
test against the arbitrary and despotic
ruling Of the speaker.
The present crisis in the Northum
berand coal trade is one which will be
long emembered. The attitude of both
men and matters points TO long and
bitter struggle. The coal owners are
determined TO enforee The red action of
the miners wage. sn tla men are AZ
uru- ~ resisting the reiuctionA The
drain apdn the resOlr ;ea Of the union is
enormous; close upon $4,000 week
b, required for strike MY. John E.
Wii1ans, Of The Social Detlocratic Fed.
GRAFTON, Is visitin, the district for the
purpose OF holding nee,infs and max.
ing collect ons n SUPPORT Of the men.
Tha iron trade shows signs Of im
pfoveueut and advances are being
'','l 's aome Of The unions, The Boil
'Vn Df.ith pi The A rnl. mated Engi
neefs 1a q 'iemaaidd an ncrease OF so
cents week It.f ihe n listers refuse
and a siriSe Is xpertsi W..LEE.
t,..,.,.. a -